Gas-burner



A. STEINBART.

GAS BURNER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7, I918.

Patented J 11110 10, 1919.

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A. STEINBAHT.

GAS BURNER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7, 1918.

1,306,446, I PatentedJune10,l919.

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GAS BURNER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7. 191a.

Patented June 10, 1919.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3 INVENTOR FIG-3 A. STEINBART.

GAS BURNER. APPLICATION FILED FEB-7,1918.

Patented June 10, 1919.

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'INVENTOR A. STEINBART.

GAS BURNER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I. 1918. 1,306,446. V Patented June 10, 1919.

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UNITED STATES ALFRED STEINBART, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAS-BURNER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 10, 1919.

Application filed February 7, 1918. Serial No. 215,933.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED STEINBART, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Burners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to gas burners, and while not limited to such use, more particularly relates to gas burners using blast furnace gases and employed in firing steam boilers.

One object of my invention is the provision of a gas burner having novel means whereby a constant ratio of gas and air is maintained in the mixture of combustible gases supplied by the burner to the combustion chamber in which the mixture is burned.

Another object of this invention is to provide a gas burner having a stabilizer f novel construction whereby the proportions of air and gas supplied to the gas burner are automatically controlled during relative variations in the air and gas supply to the gas burner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gas burner having novel means whereby variations in the gas supply automatically causes changes in the air supply and results in supplying a mixture having constant proportions of gas and air with a varying gas supply.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gas burner having novel means whereby the pressure or relative pressure of the air and gas supplied to the burner is automatically controlled and maintained.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a steam boiler gas burner having the novel constructions, arrangements and combination of parts shown in the drawings, hereinafter described in detail, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation showing a series of gas burners embodying my invention and applied for use on a battery of steam boilers, in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation similar to that of Fig. 1, buton a larger scale, and partly in section, showing details in the construction of gas burners made in a cordance with my invention,

Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, the section being taken on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4. is a sectional side elevation showing details in the construction of the stabilizing mechanism forming a novel feature of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional end elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4. the section being taken on the line V-V of Fig. 4:.

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan showing details of construction in a pilot valve adapted for use with the stabilizing mechanism of my improved gas burner.

Fig. 7 is a sectional side elevation showing details of a modification in the construction of the stabilizing mechanism of Figs. 4 and 5.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, (and in which my invention is shown applied to a battery of steam boilers of the Cahall type,) the numeral 2 designates the boiler furnaces or combustion chambers, each combustion chamber having a gas burner 3 and each of the gas burners having a stabilizer 4 by which a constant ratio of gas and air is maintained in the mixture of gas and air supplied by each gas burner to the combustion chamber. An overhead gas main 5 and overhead air blast main 6 are provided to conduct the gas and air to the series of gas burners.

Built into the front wall 7 of each combustion chamber 2 are thimbles 8, which are rectangular in cross section and which have ends and top and bottom sides. The thimbles, of which there is one for each branch 10 on the gas burners, have marginal flanges 9 on the outer edges of the sides and ends thereof, and the flanges flare outwardly to form a seat for the ends of the branches 10 on the gas burner casings. The thimbles which are narrow vertically and of considerable length. and of a width slightly greater than the thickness of the front wall 7 of the combustion chambers 2, form extensions to the branches 10. In some ases the thimble's 8 will be omitted and the branches 10 made of sufficient length to deliver the gas and air into the combustion chamber 2.

The casing of each gas burner 3 has ends integrally joined to fiat top and bottom sides, and a horizontal partition 11 which separates each casing into a lower gas chamber 12 and upper air chamber 13, (See Figs,

2 and 3). A head 14 closes the outer vertical side of the casings, these heads being detachably held in place by fastening bolts 15.

The branches 10, which, as shown, are rectangular in cross section, are provided on the furnace or boiler side of each burner casing 3 to connect the gas and air chambers in the casing with the thimbles 8 in the end wall of the combustion chamber, the flanges or inclined edges 16 on the outer end of each branch 10 converging so as to restrict the size of the outlet opening in the branch and being inclined at such angle as to closely fit the flaring marginal flanges 9 on the inlet side of the thimbles 8. (See Fig. 3).

The casing is divided transversely into twosections, (on account of the considerable length of the particular construction shown), and the two sections are joined by the flanges 18, 18 on the abutting ends thereof. (See Fig. 2). It will be apparent, however, that the casing may be integrally formed instead of being made in sections when the size of the casing or other reason makes it unnecessary to divide it into sections.

The overhead gas main 5 which extends horizontally above the boiler furnaces or combustion chambers to supply the blast furnace or other combustible gas used in the series of gas burners, is conveniently supported upon the upper ends of the series of vertical down-legs or branch pipes 19, the gas main 5 opening into the upper end of each down-leg. (See Figs. 1 and 3).

The down-legs 19, of which one is provided in line with or in front of the septum between the combustion chambers 2 of adjacent boilers, have upwardly and outwardly inclined branches or gas outlets 20 near the lower ends thereof, and the lower end of each down-leg also has a cleaning opening therein through which dust accumulating in the lower end of the down-legs, is removed from time to time, the cleaning open-' mg normally being closed by a door 20*. (See Fig. 1).

The overhead air-blast main 6, by which air is supplied to the gas burners, extends horizontally in front of the gas main 5, and

when of light construction may be conveniently suspended from the gas main by hangers 21 in the manner shown. The airblast main, which may be supported in any other approved manner found necessary or desirable, is connected at one end to the air outlet of a fan or pressure blower 22 and the fan 22 is operatively connected to the arma ture shaft of an electric driving motor 23, the fan and motor being mounted on an elevated platform 24 which is located adjacent to one end of the battery of steam boilers.

The air-blast main 6 is provided with a bent pipe or elbow 25 for each of the gas burners 3, and the elbows 25, which extend downwardly and open out of the side of the air-blast main 6 have closed lower ends and are provided on opposite sides thereof with downwardly and outwardly inclined branches 26, 26. The branches 26 conduct the air under pressure from the main 6 to the gas burners 3 and each bent pipe or elbow 25 is provided with a mechanically actuated butterfly valve 27, which, as shown,

gas burner is supported at its ends on the upper ends of the upwardly and outwardly extending branch flues 20 which are on the sides ofthe down-legs 19, and the valve con-.

trolled openings 30 in the lower side of the casing connect each end of the gas chamber 12 with the upper or outlet end of the branch gas flues 20.

' A mushroom valve 31 is provided at each end of the gas chambers 12 to. close thegas inlets 30 in the casing, these valves being secured to the lower end of vertical stems 32 and the stems extend upwardly through an opening in the partition 11 and through the stuffing boxes 33 in the elbows 29. The

screw threaded upper end of each valve stem extends through a nut 34 which is rotatably secured to a yoke 35 on the upper end of each of the elbows 29, and a hand wheel 36 on each nut provides a convenient means for turning the nuts to raise and lower the valves 31 within the gas chambers '12.

Fixed to the end of the partition 11 within the side outlet or branch 10 on the casing of the gas burners, are grids or combs 38 and 39, the teeth of the comb 38 extending upwardly at an angle and engaging with the converging flange or end 16 of the branch 10, and the teeth in the other comb 39 extending downwardly at an; angle into engagement with the converging end 16 of the other side of the branch 10.

The burner shown is designed for use with blast furnace gas, so the width of the series of openings 40 between the teeth of the air comb 38 will be eight-tenths that of the openings 41 between the teeth of the gas combs 39, the length of the openings 40 and 41 being equal. The openings 40 are staggered relative to the openings 41 was to locate the spaces in each grid opposite the teeth in the other coacting grid, and in this way cause a more intimate mixture of gas and air within the combustion chamber 2. (See Figs. 2 and 3). As the gas pressure in the chamber 12 and air pressure in the chamber 13 are always equal, (as will be more fully explained hereinafter) it is evident that the mixture of gas and air entering the combustion chamber 2 will contain ten parts gas to eight of air (which are the proportions necessary for cold blast furnace gas to obtain the most eflicient combustion).

In the case of dry cleaned blast furnace gas, such gas being heated, the proportions of the gas and air openings will be changed accordingly.

A stabilizer, designated generally by the numeral 4, is provided for each gas burner to equalize the pressure of the air in the air chamber 13 and pressure of the gas in the gas chamber 12. This stabilizer, which is shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5, comprises a base 42, which may be conveniently mounted on top of the boiler furnace or combustion chamber 2 to which the gas burner is applied in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Tanks 43 and 44 are mounted on the ends of the base, and extending upwardly within the tank 43 is a vertical pipe 45, a similar pipe 46 being provided within the tank 44, the upper ends of these pipes being open. The lower end of the pipe 45 is connected by a pipe 47 to the gas chamber 12 in the casing ofthe gas burner, and the lower end of the pipe 46 is connected, in a similar manner, by a pipe 48 to the air chamber 13 in the gas burner casing.

A post or standard 49, which may be conveniently formed of a piece of wrought metal pipe, extends upwardly from the middle of the length of the base 42, and pivotally mounted on the upper end of the post is a lever or balance beam 50. Suspended from the ends of the beam 50 are bells 51 and 52, one bell 51 extending downwardly within the tank 43 and the other bell 52 into the tank 44. The tanks are kept filled with water or other liquid to about the level indicated to form a water seal for the bells.

'When the stabilizer is connected to the air and gas chambers of the gas burner casing 3, as has been described, any variations in the air and gas pressures will lift one and lower the other of the bells 51 and 52, and

in order to hold the bells stationary and prevent lifting movement thereof until a predetermined, pressure is exceeded, a coil spring 53. is provided on the balance beam 50 on each side of its pivotal center. One end of the springs 53 is secured to the stabilizer base 42, the other end being conn'rct'ed to the balancebeam 50, and turn buckles 54 are employed to adjust the tension on the springs and in this way control the lifting movement of the bells.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7, the balance beam 50 is pivotedon the upper end of a post 49 and has the bells 51, 52 suspended from its opposite ends in the same manner as in the stabilizing apparatus of Figs. 1 and 4. In the modifiedapparatus of Fig. 7 compression springs 53 are employed which are supported upon the upper end of the posts 84 on the base 42, and the bolts 85 and-forked bolts 86, and the turn buckles 54, which connect the upper end of the posts 84 to the balance beam on oppo site sides of itspivotal center, serve to limit the extent of swinging movement of the lever or beam 50. The compression springs 53 are positioned between the top of the posts 84 and lower end of the turn buckles 54, the bolts 85 being loosely connected to the posts 84, so that when lifting movement of one of the bells 51 or 52 swings the beam 50, one of the springs 53 must be compressed, instead of the springs being extended or lengthened as in the apparatus of Fig. 4.

Also secured on the base 42 is a horizontal fluid pressure cylinder 55', and mounted in this cylinder is a double acting piston 56 having a piston rod 57 which extends through the stuffing box 58 and gland 59 on one head 60 of the cylinder. The outer end of the piston rod is connected by a link 61 to the swinging end of the lever 62 on one end of the shaft 63, and one of the shafts 63, by which the butterfly valves 27 are actuated, is operatively mounted in each of the elbows 25 forming the air outlets from the air-blast main 6. (See Fig. 5.)

The cylinder 55 is provided with a port 64 opening into the cylinder at one end thereof, and the inlet end of this port communicates with the passage 66 in the head 68 of the cylinder. A pilot valve 69 (the construction of which is shown in Fig. 6) is'secured to the cylinder head 68 with its outlet ports 70, 71 in communication with the passages 66, 67 in the head 68. The pilot valve 69 is a four-way valve having an inlet port- 72, which is connected by suitable piping to a source of fluid pressure, and an outlet port 73, which is connected by suitable piping to a drain or waste conduit. The valve is provided with a piston rod 74 which extends upwardly through a stufling' box 75 and gland 76 and is pivotally connected at its upper end to a link 77 which operatively connects the valve with the bal ance beam 50 of the stabilizer.

In the particular valve construction shown, the chamber for the piston is provided with a bushing 78 having two series of transverse openings or holes 79 and 80 therein communlcating with the fluid pressure outlets 70, 71 of the valve. The piston rod 74 is provided on its lower end with a double piston, the disks 81, 82 forming this double piston being arranged to move into and out of position to close the openings79 and 80 in the bushing 78. The inlet port 72 of the valve opens into the annular space, formed between the disks 81, 82 of the piston, and

the valve outlet port 7 3 opens into the upper end of the valve chamber. The space in the valve chamber above the disk 81 is connected by a discharge passage 83 with the space below the disk 82, the arrangement bemg such P that when the disks are moved downwardly by the balance beam 50, the valve inlet 72 will be connected to the port 67 of the fiuid pressure cylinder, while the valve outlet port 73 will be connected to the port 641 of the cylinder 55, and when the valve piston is moved upwardly, the ports will be oppositely connected so as to admit water or other fluid pressure to the cylinder onthe other side of its piston 56 and cause the piston to move in the opposite direction within the fluid pressure cylinder. Preferably, water will be the fluid used in the cylinder, although an elastic fluid may be employed when necessary or desirable.

The operation of a gas burnenconstructed in accordance with my invention will now be described.

The valves 31 in each gas burner will be opened so as to admit gas to the gas chamber 12, and as the gas chamber fills, the bell 51 will be lifted by pressure of the gas, the tank 43 being connected to the gas chamher by the pipe 47.

When the gas pressure causes lifting movement of the bell 51, and lengthens or overcomes the resistance of the spring 53 on the left-hand side of the post 4:9 in Fig. 4, the balance beam 50 will swing, and when the beam swings the position of the pilot valve 69 will move downwardly and admit fluid pressure to the cylinder. The piston 56 in the cylinder 55 will then move (from. right to left in Fig. 5) and open the butterfly valve 27 in the branch 25 of the air supply main 6 so asto admit sufiicient air into the air chamber 13 to burn the gas passing from the gas chamber 12 through the thimble 8 of the gas burner into the combustion chamber 2. When air under pressure is admitted to the air chamber 13 of ,the'burner it also enters the air bell 52, and should the a1r pressure become greater than the gas pressure the bell 52 will lift and will rock the balance beam 50 in the opposite direction. Such movement of the beam 50 will move the piston of the pilot valve 69 so as to admit fluid pressure to the opposite end of the cylinder 55 and cause the piston in the cylinder to move the butterfly valve 27,

connected to the stabilizer 4, and shut ofi' the air supply to the gas burner, and in this way equalize the air and gas pressures in the air and gas chambers or the burner-j and air so long as neoaeee the pressures in the gas and air chambers 12 and 13 are equal.

The gas supply often lessens and in such case. the pressure of the gas will be lowered. As: the fan 22 supplying the air maintains a constant pressure under normal conditions, the change in the gas supply unbalances the pressure of the gas and air and will cause the balance beam 50 of the stabilizer to swing, and in swinging, to move the piston of the pilot valve 69. This movement of the pilot valve piston causes the piston 56 in the cylinder 55 to move, and when the plston 56 is moved the butterfly valve 27 is caused to move in a direction tending to close the butterfly valve which shuts off or lessens the air supply so as to equalize the pressure of the air and gas supplied to the gas burner.

An increase in the gas pressure, which means an increase in the gas supply, operates on the gas bell 51 of the stabilizer to lift the bell and through the pilot valve 69, which is operatively connected to the balance beam 50, from which the gas and air bells are suspended, will admit fluid pressure to the cylinder 55 and cause the butterfly valve 27 in the elbows 25 of the airblast main 6, to which the stabilizer is conneoted, to open so as to increase the air supply sufliciently to maintain the desired constant proportion of air and gas entering through the gas burner and thimbles 8 into the combustion chamber 2.

The advantages of my invention, which will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, arise from the provision on the gas burner of means whereby the pressures of the gas and air are equalized and the supply of a uniform mixture of gas and air to the combustion chamber in which the mixture is burned is automatically maintained during variations in the supply of gas and air to the gas burner.

Modifications in the construction and arrangement of the gas burners may be made. The stabilizing mechanism is applicable to gas burners of various constructions other than that shown and described. The gas and air valves may be operated manually, and pressure gages provided to show the pressure and variations in the pressure of the gas and air within the gas and air chambers of the gas burner. Obviously, a motor driven fan may beprovided to supply air for each gas burner instead of a single fan and air main .to supply air to a series of gas burners, as shown. Instead of con-1 trolling the air supply by means of a butterfly valve in the air supply main, the speed of the driving motor for the fan supplying the air may be varied to change the amount of air supplied to the taining a constant ratio etween the gas and air entering the gas burner. Therelative area of the gas and air bells may be made ggis burner in mainso as to maintain a pressure within the air chamber of the gas burner, of for example, one-half that of the gas within the gas chamber, or vice-versa, and other changes may be made without departing from my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. A gas burner comprising, in combination, a combustion chamber, gas and air chambers for supplying gas and air to said combustion chamber, gas and air mains for connecting a source of gas and air to said gas and air chambers, and a stabilizer opening into said gas and air chambers for automatically maintaining predetermined proportions of gas and air in said gas and air chambers.

2. A gas burner comprising,'in combination, a combustion chamber, gas and air chambers having outlets leading into said combustion chamber, means in said gas and air chamber outlets for regulating the relative amounts of gas and air entering said combustion chamber, means for supplying gas and air to said gas and air chambers, and auxiliary means opening into said gas and air chambers for equalizing the pressure of the gas and air passing from the gas and air chambers into the combustion chamber.

3. A gas burner comprising, in combination, a combustion chamber, gas and air chambers having outlets leading into said combustion chamber, means in said gas and air chamber outlets adapted to regulate the relative amounts of gas and air entering said combustion chamber, means for supplying gas and air to said gas and air chambers, and auxiliary means opening into said gas and air chambers for automatically equalizing the pressure of the gas and air in said gas and air chambers.

4. A gas burner comprising, in combination, a combustion chamber, supply chambers for delivering gas and air to said combustion chamber, and means opening into said supply chambers for stabilizing the proportions of gas and air delivered to said combustion chamber during fluctuations in the supply of gas and air to said supply chambers.

5. A gas burner comprising, in combination, a combustion chamber, gas and air chambers opening into said combustion chamber, means for supplying gas and air to said gas and air chambers, and means opening into said gas and air chambers and forming a stabilizer for automatically controlling the supply of gas and air entering said combustion chamber.

6. A gas burner comprising, in combination, a combustion chamber, gas and air chambers opening into said combustion chamber, means for conducting gas and air to said gas and air chambers, and means opening into the gas and air chambers for equalizing the pressure of the gas and air within said gas and air chambers to thereby automatically deliver predetermined proportions of gas and air to said combustion chamber during variations in the supply of gas and air to said gas and air chambers.

7. In a gas burner the combination with a combustion chamber of gas and air chambers opening into said combustion chamber and a stabilizer for equalizing the pressure within said chambers, said stabilizer comprising a tank connected to the gas chamber, a tank connected to the air chamber, bells suspended within the tanks, said bells being arranged to move with changes in the gas and air pressure and said tanks having a liquid seal for the bells, a swinging bal-' ance beam from which the bells are suspended, a valve controlled air supply main to said air chamber, and means operatively connecting the valve in said supply main to said balance beam whereby said valve is opened and closed when the bells are moved and equal pressures are maintained within said gas and air chambers.

8. In a gas burner the combination with a combustion chamber of gas and air chambers opening into said combustion chamber and a stabilizer for equalizing the pressure within said chambers, said stabilizer comprising a tank connected to the gas chamber, a tank connected to the air chamber, bells suspended within the tanks, said bells being arranged to move with changes in the gas and air pressures and said tanks having a liquid seal for the bells, a swinging balance beam from which the bells are suspended, a valve controlled air supply main to said air chamber, means connected to said balance beam for varying the lifting movement of said bells, and means operatively connecting the valve in said supply main to said balance beam whereby said valve is opened and closed when the bells are moved to thereby maintain equal pressures within said gas and air chambers.

9. Ina gas burner the combination with a combustion chamber of gas and air chambers opening into said combustion chamber and a stabilizer for equalizing the pressure within said chambers, said stabilizer comprising a tank connected to the gas chamher, a tank connected to the air chamber, bells suspended within the tanks, said bells being adapted to be moved by changes in the gas and air pressures and said tanks having a liquid seal for the bells, a swinging balance beam from which said bells are suspended, a valve controlled air supply main to said air chamber, means connected to said balance beam for varying the pressure required to lift the bells, said means being adjustable, and means operative-1y connecting the valve in said supply line to said balance beam whereby said valve is opened and closed when the bells are moved to thereby maintain equal pressures within said gas and air chambers.

10. In a gas burner the combination with a combustion chamber having an inlet, of gas and air chambers having outlets leading into said inlet,means in said gas and air chamber outlets adapted to control the relative amounts of gas and air entering said combustion chamber inlet, and means for supplying gas and air to said gas and air chamrs. 11. In a gas burner the combination with a combustion chamber, of a thimble opening into said chamber means for supplying gas and air to said chamber, and a stabilizer operatively connected to said gas and air supplying means and arranged to automatically control the gas and air supply and thereby maintain a constant ratio between the gas and air delivered into said thimble during variations in the supply of gas and alr.

12. A gas burner comprising a combustion chamber, gas and air chambers having outlets leading into said combustion chamber, means in said gas and air chamber outlets adapted to control the relative amounts of gas and air entering said combustion chamber, means for supplying gas and air to said gas and air chambers, and means connected with the interior of said gas and air chambers between the inlets and outlets thereon for equalizing the pressure of the gas and air within said gas and air chambers.

13. A gas burner comprising gas and air chambers having outlets, means for conducting gas and air to said chambers, and means for controlling the air pressure within said air chamber by the gas pressure within said gas chamber to thereby discharge gas and air from said outlets in predetermined proportions without regard to the quantity of gas supplied to the gas chamber of the burner.

14. A gas burner comprising gas and air chambers, adjoining openings in said gas and air chambers, and combs in said openings forming a series of gas and air outlets in said burner.

15. A gas burner comprising gas and air chambers, adjoining openings in said gas and air chambers, and combs in said openings forming a series of converging gas and air outlets in said burner.

16. A gas burner comprising gas and air chambers, adjoining openings in said gas and air chambers, combs in said openings forming a series of outlets for the gas and air, said gas outlets being staggered in re lation to said air outlets, and the gas and air outlets being arranged to cause the outgoing streams of gas and air to converge. v

17. A gas burner comprising gas and air chambers, adjoining openings in said gas and air chambers,'combs in said openings forming a series of outlets forthe gas and air, and the gas and air outlets being arranged to cause the outgoing streams of gas and air to converge.

18. A gas burner comprising gas and air chambers, adjoining openings in said gas and air chambers, combs in said openings forming a series of outlets for the gas and air, and said gas outlets being staggered in relation to said air outlets.

19. A gas burner comprising a combustion chamber having an outlet, gas and air chambers having outlets which are constructed to commingle the gas and air and control the relative amounts of gas and air entering said combustion chamber, and means for supplying gas and air to said gas and air chambers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALFRED STEINBART. 

